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1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 Oh, how the dead sound so AWFULLY dead... Aug 20, 2008
Let's face it: Die For The Gov't, TSDWFY, and A New Kind of Army, as well as Underground Network are all amazing albums. The rest= all terrible. I really wanted to like Mobilize but couldn't due to it's cookie-cutter production, The Terror State is to AF what Train of Thought is to Dream Theater. And For Blood and Empire? Ugh, let's not even go there (although Emigre and I'd Tell You But... were cool songs). I've seen Anti-Flag twice (Both times opening for another band), the first time is what got me into them when they opened for Billy Talent (One of the best concerts ever). The second time was opening for Alexisonfire in December 2006 and they rocked the Shaw Conference Centre. However, all good things about Anti-Flag had to come to an end after that.
Now this atrocity has wreaked havoc in the stores everywhere. I bought this thinking it would be good, but no. Every song is laden with crappy lyrics. All the songs sound the same, with the vocals becoming weaker every track. One good thing though, is that Justin doesn't perform solos on here, which is good, because while he's a good guitarist, he ain't no Adrian Smith.
But hold that thought for a minute. Let's look at the lyrics. For the most part, they feel like they just wrote a chorus, came up with a song title, and then decided to copy and paste both the chorus and the title to fill the length of the song. But then there's the real lyrics. A Sample from "If You Wanna Steal (You Better Learn How To Die)":
"The fine line between genius and insanity
Is one he often treads so patiently
While pigs and bulls will always try to lock the door..."
Wait- did Justin just say what I think he did? No, wait, I'm gonna rewind that last line: "While Pigs and bulls will always try to lock the door." Three words: What the crap???? Doesn't Justin write clever lyrics, usually? If that ain't bad enough, here's another sample, this time, from "Tanzania", where the same line is literally repeated 4 times:
"What will it take to end the massacre?
What will it take to end the massacre?
What will it take to end the massacre?
What will it take to end the massacre?"
Why are you asking ME this, Mr. Sane? You tell ME what it'll take to end this massacre.
The music on this album is just as bad as, if worse than For Blood and Empire. The musicianship is bland and uninspired (as in unoriginal, people), as are the lyrics. And if that weren't bad enough, this is the most over-produced album I've ever heard. Child choirs, voice choirs, laughably awful keyboard orchestration, you name it. The keyboard orchestration on Iron Maiden's Dance of Death (AMAZING album- check it out, it's my 3rd favorite album of all time) worked because it made the album darker, and gave it a modern feel. Iron Maiden are metal (and my favorite band too!), Anti-Flag are punk. Keyboard orchestration works in metal, but not political punk. I know a few punk bands that use Keyboard orchestration and it works well, here it doesn't.
So if anything, this album has to be one of the most disappointing albums since Dream Theater's Train of Thought. Everything sounds forced. Chris has too many singing parts like on FBAE. As one reviewer Mentioned, if this is what the future holds for these guys, then they have indeed sold out.
(NOTE: The song "Tanzania" actually came with the online pre-order edition.)
1 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 I hate being let down by albums May 24, 2008
I've been a fan of AF since I was a wee 8th grader. I have every album, I've seen them every time they've been in philly (over 10 times). I'm not trying to brag, I just want to lend some perspective on my review. Anti-Flag has been my favorite band for over ten years, but now I feel let down. I was so excited for this cd. I was completely cool with them signing to RCA and I really do like For Blood and Empire. Then they had the Victims of Violent Crime ep, which was also awesome. So I figured, "hey, the next one has got to be great." Unfortunately, this is not the case.
The songs are not only overly long, they have no imagination. There are seemingly no verses in some songs. I feel like they just wrote a few chords, threw a terrible chorus over it and called it a song. "vices" looks like someone just hit copy and paste four (million) times.
We all have our vices
we all have our flaws
we all have our anger
we all have our love
There must have been a deadline or something because this album feels totally rushed. And really, I love when bands throw in new instruments and stuff, but they just don't work here. The guitars are lacking to the point where I'm sitting there aurally searching for riffs and hooks.
Obviously im very disappointed and I hope they go back to being anti-flag. I would seriously be surprised if radio junkies actually liked this. I hate having cds that let me down, cuz its like, what am I going to do with this? I could sell it, but that still wont erase the memories, only a new cd could. TAKE YOUR TIME AF! MAKE A GOOD ALBUM!
 Excellent, enraged, melodic & smart political punk rock May 05, 2008
Anti-Flag continues to impress me by releasing yet another fine album of snarling, politically-engaged punk rock. Some people don't like punk rock in general, while others don't like "political" punk. That's fine. Anti-Flag is not for them. But if you, like me, are into political punk, then you owe it to yourself to pick up this cd. I have no problem putting it right up there with the work of the best political punk bands (Clash, Crass, Dead Kennedys, Subhumans, DOA, Sex Pistols, etc).
The guitars are razor-sharp, the beats are propulsive, the vocals are sneering & passionate, and the songs are packed with great riffs, melodies and sing-along choruses (one of Anti-Flag's specialties).
(Oddly enough, I think there's a chance this album might also appeal to fans of Bright Eyes, as several songs bear a strong resemblance to that artist's more rocking tunes.)
In any case, "The Bright Lights Of America" is another success by a band that's sticking to its (artistic) guns and refusing to give in to cynicism and complacency.
The only word I can really use is 'Okay' Apr 28, 2008
So, I would like to ask that one would not dismiss this review because the star count is low. No, I am not one of those big punk advocates that liked "Die for the Government" and none of the other CDs, yet every time this band puts out a CD I have to say how they suck and sold out even though I haven't been a fan for a decade. I am not gonna b m and c because they signed to RCA records. I don't care. It's music. (Oh, but I did like "Die for the Government," great CD)
But in this case, it's not good music. I anticipated this CD like no other 'cause I absolutely love this band, I had seen them live 3 times and own pretty much all the music they've put out. "For Blood and Empire" was an amazing CD and I thought they were going strong after 10 years. Then they put out this.
The old Anti-Flag sound is there. It is still there, but I shouldn't have to consciously LOOK for the sound of the old band. The issue here is not that they tried new stuff, like adding a bunch of new instruments at times or writing heart-felt lyrics that are not political at all, the issue is that in order to do all that they had to slow the music down. Some songs have a lot of potential, like "The Modern Rome Burning" "Smartest Bomb" and "Shadow of the Dead" but it seems like every time a song picks up and finds some energy, it just loses it again to the breakdown and becomes rather boring. Most of the songs would do very well as 2 or 3 minute ditties, but they are instead draggged on to 4 or 5 minutes and they're not all that fun to listen to.
Another thing that bothers me about all the "new ground" is that with the addition of new instruments, the old ones (like, oh, I dunno, 6 string guitar and bass) are not as potent as they used to be. Chris's basslines, which used to drive the CDs along and impress me very much, are still there, just not as frequently and they're sometimed masked by other things. Underutilized and disappointed.
Sure, this CD has grown on me. If you liked the older CDs, there's still a chance you'll like this. If I hadn't seen them live a fourth time and heard the new stuff live I never would have bought the CD, 'cause I streamed it and had the typical "It sucked, they sold out" reaction. Turns out these songs are great live, you mosh during the fast parts and then you get a breather during the breakdowns, not that you really need it. Maybe next time Anti-Flag will be able to take this "new stuff" and apply it to their signature sound that was nearly abandoned here. Until then, 2 stars.
Highlight tracks: "Bright Lights of America" "No Warning" and "Spit in the Face"
It took two times Apr 17, 2008
I had listened to the New CD only twice before their SF show, and liked it, a lot. It was different, and I was not sure I was as into it as other Anti-Flag albums. I then went on a two week trip, and got back in the car, listened to it twice on my drive, and it is now my favorite. It is a bit more understated, but still rocks!
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